Page 10 of In Between Darkness
“These posts are where the elions sleep. Elions do not like to feel trapped and, in fact, feel safer in the open air. They thrive in cold weather, making the frosty peaks of these valleys the perfect climate for them.”
The cold air nips at my shoulders, taking my breath away for a second. The altitude is different up here. I can see the breath like hot steam evolving from each of the students’ mouths. There is no protection up here, just an iron rail that runs from one end to the other. We all gather in rows, filling up the platform, looking down at the feeding frenzy below. The elions are all gathered on a large, flat icy peak, only a couple of metres away from us. I wrap one hand around the cold rail in front of me, the other still clinging to my armour. My body is pressed firmly against the railing. I can’t help but think about falling. I push my intrusive thoughts to the back of my mind and watch as the elions get ready to hunt, kill and slaughter their prey.
I can see a few tamers in the distance below, standing next to a large iron cage. Inside the cage are gazelles, goats, sheep, and deer. Confined in a small space, the fifty or so animals seem clueless that they are being led to their demise, each one of them cramming to the front of the cage, itching to be released. The tamers pull open the cage door, and like dominoes, the animals fall out one by one, each with a spring in their step and filled with promise at their taste of short-lived freedom. This is cruelto watch. The elions trill with excitement at the four-course meal paraded in front of them. I stare as one swoops down from its post and grips onto the small frame of the gazelle; the sharp talons rip its flesh like butter. I listen as the sound of snapping bones tortures my eardrums. We are all stunned into silence. The Elion tightens its grip and carries its carcass to its perch to devour it further.
“The students in the taming class also tend to the animals as well as the elions,” Veronica teaches. “Those of you who think it’s cruel may not have what it takes to become a tamer. The Sun Gods gifted us these majestic beasts, and we do whatever it takes to keep them alive and well. In order for an elion to trust you, it must know you are capable of tending to its every need. This is how the bonds are forged. In return, it will protect you and let you ride it.”
The class still fixates on the killing spree down below.
“Do any of you know how tamers and elions communicate?” she asks, looking around at us all.
“All elions can communicate using a series of clicking and humming sounds. The array of clicks depend on which region the elions are found in. Just like how North Palidonian’s and South Palidonian’s have slightly different accents,” Nala states. “We Sunkinds, over the centuries, have mastered the ancient communication of the beasts and translated it in the scribes.”
“Correct. We do, in fact, teach the language here, but an elion will have to have complete trust in you in order to respond. If you practice enough and pay attention in lessons, you will be able to communicate freely with one by the end of your time here at Sun Sovereign.”
“How long does it take to ride them?” a deeper voice asks.
I turn to face the voice, and it is Charlie. He seems nice. Nala and I were seated near him at first meals. He is rather handsome and definitely Nala’s type. She watches him, admiringhis features. Looks like he is an aspiring tamer, too. He looks back at her and her cheeks redden.
“As long as it takes. We have had students come in and not bond at all. Others can form a relationship within the first few months,” Veronica responds, smiling back at him.
“Are they going to ride them today?” another student asks, clutching his hat in his hands so the wind doesn’t blow it away.
“After feeding time, tamers shall mount the elions to practice for the end-of-year assault course, where each student is timed on a series of assaults both on land and mid-air. The students with the fastest times are given recommendations that will prove in their favour after graduation and a place on the leaderboard. The Sun Gods very much enjoy this.” She looks up at the leaderboard on the wall behind us. There are three hundred names on the board, one for every year Sun Sovereign has been around.
Nala’s eyes scan the board. “Natasha Reed, seven minutes, four seconds,” she whispers, smiling whilst pointing towards the board. “That’s my mum’s score. Best in her year.”
“She’s such a badass.”
“That will be me up there, come the end of the year. I just know it.” Nala beams in adoration.
Nala is still excited despite the sound of grinding bones and merciless killing right under her nose.
I hear a grumble behind me disrupting my gaze. That wasn’t an elion. I look around, and Toby Pierce looks as though he is going to puke. His hand clutches at his mouth as if he is trying to keep his tongue from falling out, and the other grips his stomach. I nudge Nala and throw a concerned look in his direction. Even Alex Rotherman looks a little faint. The grumble gets louder, and all eyes are on Toby.
“Miss…” Toby says between gulps, “I don’t feel too good.”
Miss Worthington looks his way, but before she can react, Toby erupts like a volcano that has reached its pressure point, spewing his guts all over Ciara Moldova. She looks down in disgust at the contents of his first meal saturating her pink boots and trousers. A sickly slime clings to her fingers, webbing them as the putrid smell overpowers our nostrils. Tears well in her eyes. She is about to blow, too.
“AHHHHHH!” A piercing shriek escapes her mouth like a siren. “GET IT OFF ME. GET IT OFF ME!”
Veronica shushes Ciara harshly placing her index finger over her mouth. Did she forget the number one rule? No loud noises.
I hold my breath as if letting it out would kill me. Something tells me not to turn around, but the anticipation of seeing the damage Ciara has made is overwhelming. The hairs on my neck stand alert as if about to go into battle. I turn my head slowly. No sudden movements. The elions are not feeding anymore. Their eyes are feasting on us.
“Now, students, do not be alarmed. Make your way back through the doors slowly. Do not turn your back on them,” Veronica whispers, trying not to move her lips much.
The tamers down below try to calm the beasts using the communicative clicking sounds in their direction, but they take flight ignoring them, and are frantically spiralling through the valleys. I watch as the largest one soars high in the air and then swoops down like a bullet piercing the torso of a tamer. A gut-wrenching scream is released as its talons work their way through the man’s flesh. Other tamers run and try to take cover. The elions group together, feasting on the remnants of the ravaged man, pulling him from limb to limb. I cover my mouth in shock. There is nothing anyone can do. His head is torn clean off his body, and not even the Restorers can put him back together again.
Tension fills the air. I know I am not the only one who is afraid. The students back away from the ledge with trepidation, edging towards the door. A few are filing out, but what feels like a sea of students still lies between me, Nala and the safety of the door. My heart skips a beat.
“Holy shit!” I whisper, clutching Nala’s hand in mine.
She looks scared now, which frightens me even more.
A loud ‘bang’ emits from beside us. Jemima has slipped on the puke in the panic. She lands with a thud, and the viewing platform shakes as if it is as terrified as we are in this moment. Frozen in fear, she does not move. Now we’re in trouble. The elion’s ears perk up and leave the tamer’s body to the Gods. This is not how the day was supposed to go.
I watch in fear as the elions enlarge before my eyes. They are getting closer. Without moving my head, my eyes dart towards the door, summing up the likelihood of us getting out of here in one piece. Students are still shuffling back towards the door, trying not to make any sudden movements. I know that they can’t, but I wish they would just hurry the fuck up right about now. It does not look good. I feel the wind pick up as the beasts are getting closer. Veronica’s demeanour changes.
